Publication Details

HYDRAULIC AND HYDROLOGIC CHALLENGES: PREPARING PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOR FLOODS DUE TO IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE - ASIAN REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The changing climate, as evidenced by rising frequency of extreme weather events all over the globe, forces policy and decision-makers to re-evaluate the adequacy of existing water related infrastructures, current civil engineering practices and management. One of the most compelling reasons for considering climate change is that hydrology and hydraulic data play a key role in the planning and design of infrastructure particularly due to floods event. Under climate change, the use of historic data alone may no longer be appropriate. Conventional uses of historic data such as the exclusive use of climatic normal could render infrastructure vulnerable by leading to designs with insufficient load and adaptive capacity, or by leading to planning decisions that situate projects in environment such as floods that become unsafe and difficult to maintain over time. Therefore, civil engineers and hydrologist are responsible for the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of physical infrastructure, which it is expected to remain functional, durable and safe for long service life, typically 50 to more than 100 years. They are exposed to, and potentially vulnerable to, the effects and extremes of climate such as floods. Therefore, incorporating climate resilience (climate change and climate variability) into future water-related risk planning, management and design is an essential for preparing project management in developing a framework for sustainable development. Considering climate resilience early through risk management approach in the decisions making process may avoid future costs to the project and related impacts on the environment. In this regard, NAHRIM has undertaken a considerable amount of research in terms of climate change, water resources and flood studies. In relation to this, the methodology for assessing inland flooding vulnerability by incorporating climate change factor (CCF) was developed from climate change projection data for the selected river basins in Malaysia Peninsula. The hydrologic and hydraulic analysis and modeling were performed to produce future flood extent maps for flood damage economic evaluation, risk assessment, identification of adaptation option and appraise adaptation option. The CCF method developed from this study was the basis for NAHRIM’s Technical Guide: Estimation of Future Design Rainstorm under the Climate Change Scenario in Peninsular Malaysia. This Technical Guide can assist engineers, planners and decision-makers in designing, planning and developing water-related infrastructure under the changing climatic conditions. This guideline introduces an approach for quantifying the scale of climatic change to surface water systems, particularly due to variability and fluctuations in precipitation pattern. In general, this paper will encompass initiatives taken by the government through NAHRIM in form of climate change projection and studies, incorporating climate resilience in water and flood related planning and design, and risk assessment frameworks in order to enhance project management under the changing climate.